Courtesy jdurham@morgueFilefree photos

Change…
“To make something different. You can cause something to change, or you can bring change upon yourself.”… Google Business Dictionary

Change
When change is as good as a holiday
Dust out those gorgeous china cups and use them more
Change enlightens the spirit

You are aching for a holiday, a change to the everyday dreary, where can we go, but have little funds, I need a break moment of madness.

Staycation…have you ever indulged?
Now isn’t that a good word, indulged. It makes it sound so much better than we went, or we did

Plan. Give thought. Try and make the main part of home really inviting and fresh with nothing but a little time and elbow grease….or do it later with everyone pitching in after a refreshing recharge out.

Stay based at home but…

Enjoy a myriad of little trips
Search out
Visit new places for
a snack
a coffee
a catchup
a picnic
a new communal meeting point with friends
Time and connection with loved one
Time and connection with children

So instead of a few hundred dollars just on accommodation for at best a couple of nights you have the pleasure to indulge many little occasions spread over time. You can spend nothing by bringing from home, or treating for this occasion. Again it doesn’t need to cost a heap. New surroundings, pleasant views all add to the special ambience….give it a little thought and do some homework or ask acquaintances.

Courtesy greyerbaby@morgueFile free photos

I was reminded of our staycation whilst looking for a particular photo. Well I didn’t find it as it’s on my phone and I have yet to be able to download them. But it gave me a germ of an idea for a topic:)

We did staycation last year because all the accommodation we looked at was just so unrealistic. I think of it as “the end of winter, need to lift the blues.” We had amazingly beautiful weather crowning OUR day.

Leaving home without breakfast we drove to somewhere and as I don’t know that part of Sydney hence no name. It was a beach….hubby just corrected me, it was somewhere in Collaroy. Here we enjoyed brunch right on the seashore with a slow coffee. We lingered and savoured the moment. A little walk was included.

Then onwards to Palm Beach enjoying the ocean road. I know that name as I love the area though we have hardly ever been there. We found a nice bench on the edge of the sand and got our respective books out to peruse, to watch the ocean perchance to snooze. Another walk to a park for more chatting , reading and hubby snoozing. A few steps found another lovely eatery for a very late afternoon snack which actually became our evening meal as we didn’t eat that night.

Thence home unfortunately through traffic but that’s part of going on a Friday….our day off.

One long spread out gorgeous, decadent indulgence which I would love to repeat and hope to. Kill the winter blues sounds a good idea I think and something to look forward too. But maybe with a bit of careful budgeting as hubby is the proud new owner of a Pension Concession Card….he’s worked hard and now counting down with just under two weeks to him retiring and new adventures on the horizon….Retirement being a journey and not a destination.

Do you have little indulgences?

It doesn’t take much, does it,to change a hopeless want into reality if we just think about it differently.

Joining in with Essentially Jess for IBOT

Courtesy hotblack@morgueFile free photos

Impressions…
Winter fruits in a bowl
Bringing cheer

A cold South wind
Bringing Snow on the Alps
Silently falling on some high flung Snow Fields
For skiing enthusiasts
For me though, I must find that oh so lightweight merino wool wrap cardigan from Aldi purchased for a song
Ah, yes, it’s lovely and warm to take with me to Worship

Later observing other peoples impressions as I drive home

Find and soak up that spot of sunshine sheltered from the wind
Watching young children run round and playing
Young hot blooded fun in sports attire
With hair blowing and streaming behind
Yelling and laughter
Whilst us oldies watch pulling collars up round our ears
Indeed also tightly wrapping jackets closer and wishing for that hot coffee

Courtesy pippalou@morgueFile free photos

Seasons of the year and cycles of life, constantly changing
One moment young and in a blink it seems we are old

Greyest of lowering skies at the start of day
Ending with teasing hues of vermillion and orange sunset

Courtesy hotblack@morgueFile free photos

To the blackness of night on a Sunday in winter

Courtesy hotblack@morgueFile free photos

To rest and peace, preparing for a new week inside homes we are blessed to be able to warm.

By Alexa

Awesome photos by hotblack & pippalou of morgueFile free photos

Mother who raised her dear children and in later years with always a fresh supply of crunchy Anzac biscuit adorned with half an almond in the biscuit jar

Then their children nurturing some of their own families

Remembering you especially today but also everyday.

Memories like scattered dewdrops to refresh anew.

Thank you for your inspiration Laila from Tableofcolours

Memories flitting through my brain as I do my pile of ironing this beautiful autumn morning, like moving grains of sand on a beach. There one moment then gone. Like life, fleeting.

Little boy’s words….in tunnel driving to airport with two and a half year old little boy in back seat saying over and over

“point…point….point…point”

????

Ah Hahhh!

…..There were green arrows on the roof of the tunnel pointing up ( it seemed) showing all lanes open

Daddy cutting grass…Little boy….”lowing mawn” and putting his ear “muffins” on…Ear muffs for the noise.

Me, Grandma, pointing out a huge crane on a building site as we drove to airport ,
Little boy stating……WOW…
Grandpa do, Grandpa do…
He was stretching out his arms showing how BIG the crane was. Only problem being, grandpa was driving and couldn’t stretch out his arms wide.

Little boy not wanting an afternoon nap, kept wandering out with lots of excuses, last one being as he carried out a big book open wide …”story?”

Memories, of a now adult oldest daughter, when about 6 years old saying to me with my red dress on…mummy you look like a princess….priceless …love you too.

Chatting by phone to the same daughter today. She asked her little boy if he wanted to speak to Grandma…NO….he wanted to come and SEE Grandma. Cute boy!… I think I’m allowed to be a little bit biased though:)

Years ago my husband helping a friend carry an old Auntie in a fireman’s lift ….crossed arms and hands clasped on wrists down flights of stairs in flats in Germany to get her to car.

Little cousins and friends who are now adults, playing, running and sliding down monstrous sand hills near Robe S.A. and getting caught in a wind sand storm…older cousins helping younger cousins escape. Clothes full of sand.

Running home from school in Germany as a little 6 year old because I was so scared of the rumbling line of tanks on a local cobbled street in Lampertheim Germany. They were the American occupying forces on a manoeuvre and seemed monstrous to a little shy girl.

How memories flit through our brain, random and without order, rhyme or reason…but yes , there quite often is a reason or triggers. Yesterday glancing through an old diary of my mother’s going back more than 20 years make for memories.

9th of May , and a spring day in Germany still very cold but wanting to wear a white with little green patterns summer dress . It had ties at the shoulders and came with a red puffed sleeve blouse. My mother had made it for my 6th birthday.

Looking with soft heart at a photograph of my mother’s house where she spent teenage years. My mother had described it in words but this was my first actual pictorial view.

Heppenheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany

Being told of the exciting news of a first grandchild to be.

Holding with awe our first grandchild, and another and another. Six precious beings from teens to babes.

Enjoy and savour the beauty of this day or find something to hold onto that creates a thought of peacefulness.

As the Flower of the field, it toils not nor spins…

Contents and photos by Alexa.
Till later…

Linking up for IBOT…I blog on Tuesdays with Essentially Jess

5 Random Things I am thankful for this day

1..Summer Fun and memories
2..Cool days a coming
3..New lavender buds-love them
4..Comfort food for a cool morning
5..Observations from being with little boys

1..Thankful for the lovely family and friend times we shared outdoors during our summer here in Australia. Summer fun, Beach fun, picnic times, impromptu cricket games in the true Australian fashion when all that was available was a tennis ball and bats. Camp chair and Esky/chilly bins were pressed into service as stumps. Fun had by all…

Summer time is also our wedding anniversary so am thankful for the lovely time and meal we shared a La restaurant@home and a fabulous bunch of red roses from Aldi for $5. So love them.

Eating out at home in pleasant atmosphere

2..On to today and Oh so sad…today being the last day of Summer and the sky is definitely NOT showing summer weather. It’s grey and miserable with constant drizzle. Cool enough for me to search out my sheepskin scuff slippers this morning instead of bare feet. Thankful for warm feet.

Cold weather approaching and summer has passed

An upside of overcast weather is that photographs come out much better because the sun is not leaching out colour. I just use my iPad for convenience

3..Lots of buds happening in my garden on my Lavender hedge which I grew completely from my own rooted cuttings with a huge dose of patience. Happy days cause I love Lavender.

4..Cool weather this morning made for wanting a warmer breakfast but not as heavy as porridge. So out comes the trusty Couscous. A very easy and quick meal with only the breakfast bowl to wash up….cook according to directions on pack. I used the microwave. Towards the end add a few sultanas. Allow to stand for a while. I also add a drizzle of olive oil when cooking. I make sure there’s a bit of liquid left once couscous is cooked or else add some more then stir in a bit of milk powder and a drizzle of Maple Syrup. Breakfast done and nice warm stomach…thankful..(I think making it with quinoa would also work and be somewhat healthier, but more expensive.)

5..Observed one little boy on Wednesday…daddy snoozing on lounge chair after a long day at work. B going up to daddy with…Tickle Tickle…not much response…sometime later B climbs up and crawls under daddy’s arm, daddy cuddles him and continues napping…B rubs his fingers on daddy’s arm for a while, lies there for a while and slithers out again down the side of the chair…like a little puppy. It was so cute but because I was cooking I couldn’t take a photo and just observed. Too sweet and precious daddy time x

Observation about B’s little cousin on Tuesday during showering time. I put a bit of shampoo on H head and then proceeded to wash and rinse shampoo off….little voice piping up “awww grandmaaa” every time I put a container of water on his head…I was spoiling his fun playing with his toys…awww grandmaaa

Drawing of a field of flowers with colourful “blooms”

Grandchildren are SO precious and take our mind away from the cares of the everyday. Indeed thankful for blessings.

What are you thankful for on this day? Count them and you’ll be surprised.

So another week ends. Blessings

By Alexa
Photos belong to me too

Joining in and thanks ….
A rural journal blogspot Random 5 Friday

If you allow yourself to open up to others, it becomes a gift – it is a gift to yourself and to others.

A friend is a gift to yourself.

This ancient tree….

I wonder how many people have walked under or by this spreading tree, or observed it from afar wishing they could enjoy its cooling shade on a hot day.

How many scenes, dramas and stories have played out under its canopy. Picnic gathering with a couple or a tribe. Hurried bustle, gentle stroll, children of all ages clambering over those gigantic roots, friendships made and friendships lost or friendships even strengthened.

Being a friend requires a listening ear, which is THE hardest thing to do. We so often cannot wait to offer opinions rather than just listening with that hearing ear. It takes no monetary effort but our conscious effort.

So give that gift to another….because there will come a time when we need a friend in our life.

Now as we know there are different depths of friends as there are different types of people and all have various needs. This one fills a need for succour, another the need of companionship, that one supports us when we are weary, these ones help when we need to bounce some ideas around.

Young and old, we weave a tapestry together to create a strong unit and as the saying is “it takes a village to raise a child”

So let’s all try to succour each other, observe and seek out whom we may help.

Even the smallest deed from a helping hand can have great reach.

Or knowing of a need in someone yet unable personally to provide it. …by having succoured friendships we know who can provide that strength. That helping hand. That friendship circle….and you know that in life generally we probably already do that without conscious thought.

Also on another tangent, who hasn’t in conversation mentioned like I did some years ago, or observed “Oh how I miss being able to help my ageing mother who lives interstate” yet standing right next to me is a recent older widow. There’s many opportunities right under our own nose….people from other places with no familiar people for them, be a support for them or lead them to the right contacts for them.

So let us be a generous and awesome friend today. Are we up to the challenge?

From Alexa

Photos and content by Alexa

http://www.Alexa-asimplelife.com

Also on Facebook by same name

Dairy and egg intolerant.

Stuck for dessert recipe…or simply

Run out of eggs

Want to save money

Run out of shopping money

Well, I have a recipe I’ve used and adapted for our taste.

My writing this post comes about because of a comment a friend made having run out of eggs in the middle of a big baking storm….and I think that’s exactly the reason why I initially found this recipe. There are so many variations out on the web, some using Lemon juice others using vinegar. I chose the vinegar option as there is always some vinegar in a home!

PRETEND WHITE CHOCOLATE MUD CAKE…my title

This is an all in one bowl cake. Easy, no creaming, no eggs, no milk. A rich tasting cake with a scrumptious mud cake texture.

Photo courtesy pippalou @ morgueFile free photos

1 and half cups Plain Flour
3/4 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 to one and a half teaspoons Vanilla essence- I use pure like Queens brand
1 Tablespoon white vinegar
6 Tablespoons oil – I use light Olive oil
1 teaspoon Baking Soda (Bi-Carb)

Heat oven to 180C less for Fan forced. Oil 20cm tin or and line tin with Baking Paper. As I use a round silicon tin I also add Baking paper to base, oiled.

Put flour, sugar and water into bowl. Add Vanilla, vinegar, oil and Baking Powder. Mix with beaters till smooth. The mixture will be runny. Pour into tin. Bake 35-40 minutes or until inserted skewer come out clean. I have found mine takes longer to cook being in the silicon cake tin.

Cool for 10 minutes and take out of tin. When cold ice with your favourite icing. I make orange icing using icing sugar, dab of butter, bit of powdered milk, squeezed orange juice and some of the grated zest. If you want plain vanilla butter icing omit orange and add more butter and milk powder with the tiniest drip of vanilla if you wish.

Or serve plain dusted with icing sugar….lots of choices for any palate.

Being done in a round tin (mine is 22cm) the cake when cut looks like the large pieces of the gourmet cakes at coffee shops that we drool over, but at a fraction of the cost.

Also when you take your cake to an event you can say that people with certain allergies ie, dairy and egg can readily enjoy.

Photo courtesy earl53 @morguefile.com

There is scope for lots of variations on this cake the main and most favoured being CHOCOLATE…mmmm…add 3 Tablespoons and up the sugar a bit. Once cooled cut cake in half so you have two rounds. Spread base with red jam then add beaten/whipped cream. Gently replace top circle of cake. The cake can be left plain with its jam and cream filling or have lots of chocolate icing on top and you are set…..or you can put cream on top and grate some chocolate as we did to a trifle when we had family together over the holidays. Grand children’s hands trying to catch the stray gratings of chocolate. Depends how decadent you want the cake to be. Place in fridge. Again lots of compliments….and wouldn’t it go as a fabulous dessert with these chocolate hearts and freshly brewed coffee if you are looking for Valentine’s day ideas.

Need a bigger cake to feed a group, then double the quantity, use larger tin and bake longer, checking with skewer!

Enjoy….invite some friends round for morning tea instead of going out for coffee and save everyone a bundle. Your friends will thank you for thinking of this.

….but my most favourite chocolate cake is a microwaved cake recipe I have which includes eggs but I use Orgran Egg Replacer. The ultimate Black Forest Cake for pennies.

So some letters on a screen…printed words….
One recipe but many variations,
Quantities for a few or a crowd,
saving money ideas,
about food allergies,
Substituting ingredients,
Everyday happenings snippets
Thankfulness
Brilliant colours
And of course food…
…and what say you dear readers?

With that, for now I’ll leave you drooling over cake whilst I go and prepare our evening meal.

By for now
Alexa

Words and photographs belong to Alexa from www.Alexa-asimplelife.com except as stated courtesy of.